Dig Deeper - Sunday 23rd August
Sermon Reflection: Ruth: Courage to Stay Faithful
Ruth 1:1-18
Link to service
Dig Deeper notes from Sunday 23rd August service -
It is recommended that you take time to read through the whole book of Ruth (only 5 chapters) in order to take in the full impact of Ruth’s decision to remain faithful to her mother-in-law Naomi. The following background information may help:
Historical context: Ruth and her sister-in-law Orpah were Moabites, descendants from Abraham’s nephew Lot via an incestuous relationship. The tension between the Israelites and the Moabites stemmed from a long history of territorial conflicts and religious clashes. The two nations experienced persistent animosity recorded throughout biblical history – the key issues being:
· Lack of Hospitality following the Exodus
· Hiring Balaam to curse the Israelites
· Moabite women enticed Israelite men into sexual immorality and the worship of their local god, Baal of Peor, which brought a severe plague upon Israel.
· Religious Differences: The Moabites worshipped distinct deities (or idols), contrasting with the “one creator God” covenant of the Israelites
With this in mind, for Ruth and Orpah it would have been a brave decision to marry into an Israelite family and then have taken a lot of courage to go and live in enemy territory with little chance of finding a new partner for life.
God given rules concerning provision for the poor: These rules included the principle that when fields are harvested, the leftovers stalks and ears should not be gathered in, but should be left for the poor and for foreigners to collect in order to survive. So, on arrival in Israel, Ruth went out to the harvest field to glean what she could for herself and her mother-in-law.
Guardian Redeemer: The definition of a Guardian Redeemer is A close male relative in ancient Israel legally obligated to protect, rescue, or redeem a family member facing extreme poverty, slavery, land loss, or widowhood. Governed by laws in Leviticus 25 and Deuteronomy 25, this role preserved family property and lineage.
Conclusions from the Story of Ruth:
· Loyalty is not just a feeling or an emotion – it’s a choice (Ruth 1 v 16) and choices often require courage – especially when that choice leads us into an unknown future
· The test of loyalty is sacrifice – If it doesn’t cost us something, it’s not real loyalty. Ruth’s loyalty took a great deal of courage
· Loyalty and kindness are important forms of witness to others around us (Ruth 2 v 11&12)
Questions to consider/discuss:
· Do we make a conscious choice to be loyal or is it just something that develops as we gravitate towards people we respect?
· Ruth’s loyalty and kindness was noticed by others in the community – how do we demonstrate loyalty and kindness in our community?
· Is there someone we ought to show greater loyalty towards – what would that cost us?
Prayer:
Lord God,
Thank you for Ruth’s example of courageous loyalty and kindness. Help us to choose faithfulness, even when it costs us something or leads us into the unknown.
Show us who needs our loyalty and kindness, and give us the courage to act. Help our lives to reflect your love and trust in your faithfulness.
Amen.
